Ashland, Ore. — Contract negotiations are becoming heated as Southern Oregon University’s classified employees rallied Thursday on campus.
“We’re gonna ask ask ask for a fair contract,” chanted union members outside Stevenson Union at SOU.
Bargaining is underway, for classified employees at Oregon’s seven public universities.
The union bargaining team chair, Marc Nisenfeld said SOU wants their contract proposal to be separate from the other six Oregon universities.
He saidthe Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 503 is serious about their threat to strikeif SOU does not group together with the rest of the schools in the state.
“We will go on strike at U of O, OSU at PSU, all seven universities. We will go on strike if they don’t bring Southern along. That’s the consequence,” said Nisenfeld.
SOU said at this point, their proposal is identical to the six other schools.
A new funding model and money from the state that hasn’t been approved are both reasons SOU wants to offer its own package.
The new funding model, which kicks in July 2015, was approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Nisenfeld said it will change how schools are awarded state money.
Before the change, public universities received funding based 80% on enrollment and 20% on completion. Now Nisenfeld said the funding model is switching, to where funding will now be based on 80% completion and 20% enrollment.
There are roughly 150 classified employees at SOU and about 4500 in Oregon.
SOU said it remains open to joining in with the other universities’ economic package, as long as the proposal remains financially acceptable to SOU.
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